Author: revkevjr

Another day packed with ministry! After breakfast and devotions we headed to the Salvation Army. 1/2 of the team worked in the Thrift Store sorting donations. The other 1/2 went to the community center/church and had a wonderful time mingling with the folks playing cards, doing crafts, and doing puzzles. Natalia was asked to be the receptionist and answer the phone for people calling for assistance. After cleaning up we had bag lunches in the vans and drove 30 minutes to a YMCA where we did our dance, shared the gospel, and played with the kids. We then went to Pastor Lenny’s house and the kids enjoyed swimming and popsicles. We returned to the dorms, ate some fruit, showered, and headed out to another women’s recovery home. About 100 women were there and we had a powerful time together! They were so enthusiastic about Jesus, and excited that we were there. We did our dance and drama, 6 members of our team shared their testimonies, and MaryAnn shared a word with them. There was so much mutual encouragement happening. Beautiful! Afterward we learned that one woman had spent all day doing everything she could to get herself out of the treatment program. One of the woman simply said, “I know you’re out of here tomorrow, but why don’t you just come in tonight.” After our time of ministry, she reported that she would NOT be checking herself out and would stick with the program. Wow! Praise God! Please pray for her! After our farewells we loaded up, drove back to Toccoa, ate dinner, did more swimming, then had a time for the team to debrief the day. One of Pastor Lenny’s sons, Jose, shared his incredible testimony with us! Our team was touched so deeply. We got back about 10:30pm, and the team is finally falling asleep now. A great day! Thanks for your continued prayers.

See all the pics here.

Dominic has decided to become one of the Cannon Boys.

Wow! What a day! This morning we had breakfast at 8am followed by small group devotions. At 10am one of our groups went to work at the Salvation Army, and the other 3 groups headed to the Boys and Girls Club. The group at the Salvation Army moved some donated goods. The others did their dance to “Who Am I?”. We then spent another hour plus playing with the kids. Some of our students asked the children if they wanted to learn the dance we had done, and a lot of them did, so they taught it to them. So great! We also made balloon animals, did face painting, played basketball, parachute, football, and more with the kids. Every one of the team did great engaging with the children! We then went to Pastor Lenny’s house where a group of 8 students practiced the “Everything” drama. We also played a little basketball and hung out until lunch – hamburgers and hotdogs. We then went inside and enjoyed the much-needed air conditioning and heard from a young married couple who is heading off to India as missionaries, and were challenged to be radical for Jesus by a friend of Pastor Lenny’s named Sister Sherry. We returned to our dormitory at Toccoa Falls Christian College, and the team of 8 finished learning the “Everything” drama. At 5pm we loaded up and drove to Heart Ministries – a recovery home for women trying to overcome addictions. The kids were incredible! We did our dance and drama, and there was not a dry eye in the place! So powerful! We also had our first round of student testimonies. Saul, Grace, Kate, Daniel, and Natalia all shared and did excellent! So proud of them! MaryAnn Dantona then shared a word with the ladies and we ended with a beautiful time of prayer and lots of hugs. The ladies were so appreciative of our team coming. On the way home we stopped at Walmart to pick up some supplies and saw a gorgeous rainbow and an unbelievable sky filled with colors. Back at the dormitory we had dinner and read blog comments. Full day of ministry! More tomorrow!

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The awesome JoAnne who flew down from Long Island to cook for our team!

Some of Pastor Lenny’s sons doing a rap

This morning everyone from the team made it to the airport and everything went smoothly at checkin and getting through security. Our flight was good and the kids were very excited. For at least one of our students it was their first time flying. When we landed we got our luggage and picked up our 3 rental vans, loaded up, and drove to Toccoa. We stopped at Wendy’s en route for dinner. When we arrived at Toccoa Falls College, Pastor Lenny Cannon and his family was there to greet us and help us get settled into our rooms. JoAnne, our cook for the week, and a long-time friend of Pastor Kevin’s from Long Island, flew down yesterday ahead of our team to get the food supplies in order was also there to welcome us. Her daughter and grandson drove up from Florida to join us on our mission this week. At 9:30pm we drove over to Pastor Lenny’s house and used the building on his property to give everyone a brief orientation and to practice our dances and dramas. The kids really did well and within an hour you could see the difference. We also lined up 2 groups of kids who will learn the Everything drama. We returned to our dorms and one of the groups did a brief walk thru of the drama. Tomorrow after lunch we are hoping to have them nail it and the will do it live tomorrow evening. The kids are so amped up and we’re trying to get them to get some much needed sleep. Up and at ’em early tomorrow! Thanks for all your love and prayers.

On Wednesday some of our Jr. High students and leaders had a really fun time at Boomers followed by dinner together. The first of many great events planned for this summer.

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After 13 days, yesterday our family was finally and joyfully reunited. Natalia flew to Chicago all by herself to spend time with her Nana and Pappy Mahaffy while Claudia, Adriana and I were in Peru. We are so proud of our little girl for her maturity and responsibility traveling alone.

On Monday evening we got to the airport about 7:30pm. The idea was that we would checkin, go get something to eat, then go through security and get to our gate in plenty of time for our flight, which was supposed to leave at midnight. Unfortunately, they didn’t open the desk for checkin until 10pm, so we went in groups and got dinner, then checked in. Everything went smoothly. When we arrived in Mexico City at 6:30am we went through Immigration then got our luggage, went through Customs, and put our luggage on the transfer belt. Only our team supplies bag was held up. Adriana and I waited for the Federales to come and search the bag, explaining that the fake guns and knives and money were props for dramas, and that we weren’t bringing the balloons and balloon pumps through to sell. Everyone got breakfast, then we boarded our flight. Three of our team members were selected for “random” search. No problems. We arrived at JFK early, but took quite a while to taxi before being towed to our gate. All people and luggage made it home safely and there were a lot of happy parents there to greet us.

Our awesome bus driver for the week in Peru.

This morning after breakfast we loaded the bus and headed to town to do our souvenir shopping. After 2 hours we went to the mall where everyone was able to buy lunch. Most ate Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds. Some of us leaders enjoyed two Peruvian favorites … sebiche and anticuchos (beef heart). Both were absolutely delicious! The only thing we missed was the Guinea pig, but we can get that at home. lol! The kids had lots of fun. We have just returned to the church and are wrapping up packing and cleaning the facilities. At 7pm we will be heading to the airport, checking in, eating dinner, then going through security to our gate. Please pray everything goes smoothly and that all flights and connections are on time.

See all the pics here.

This morning we had a few more students not feeling well – Chris, Noah, and Naomi F. By this writing they all seem to be doing better, praise God. We had breakfast at 8am followed by a time of some very deep and I believe healing sharing. This really set the tone for the day, and it was an honor to see the team really focussed and united in ministry, on this, our final day of formal ministry here in Peru. We led the church service here at the church we have been staying at. Adriana led, and Peter, Nathaniel, Claudia and I played music. We then did a couple of our dramas, and Natalie, Ben, Aaron, Vivian, Althea, Claudia, and Dane all shared their testimonies. I preached, and at the end we had a beautiful time of prayer. At lunch we took time to celebrate Mr. Bradley Spicher’s 15th birthday! This is one birthday I’m sure he’ll never forget. We ordered some delicious cakes and an apple pie from a local bakery, which, Matt Fraher has made his second home, always finding a good reason we need a bakery run. lol! After lunch we loaded the bus and drove 2 hours up the coast to minister at a small church that is just 3 months old. The people had set up on a basketball court adjacent to the church. We were so blessed as they ran a cable about 50 yards from someone’s home, and a guy spliced the cable and ran a lightbulb up through the hoop and dangled it over the podium so we could see. The team was superb tonight! We did all of our skits and dramas, and Peter, Elaine, Victoria, Taylor, Naomi M., Irene, Jacqueline, Kevin, Claire, and Steven all shared their testimonies. I preached, and then we were invited to the church where we were served sandwiches and coffee for dinner. I am so proud of these students! They have risen to the occasion and embraced the challenge. It hasn’t always been easy, but I can already see growth in them. Tomorrow we have our free day and will head downtown to do the tourist thing and go souvenir shopping. Then we will return, clean the church, load up, and head to the airport for our overnight flight home. Thank you for your continued prayers!

See all the pics! Album 1 click here. Album 2 click here.

See all the trip pics here.

P.S. Many of you have inquired about my back. It is sore, but the pain is muscular and is lessening each day. I had back surgery a few years ago and was initially concerned, hoping I didn’t mess anything up. As far as I can tell I just have some deep bruising.